What specific strength, flexability assessments & evaluations do you track in boot camp/small group programs??
I am starting a boot camp / small group program. Wondering what specific strength/flexability/endurance assessments you conduct initially and track over time. There is limited time, and I don’t yet have the ability to bring each person in individually. So I’m just wondering what are the good ones to track and assess. Thanks.
I offer orientation to all new bootcampers on a day prior to our start date so I can review policies, expectations, and put them through a mini workout so I can assess them.
I measure their waist size for the first time there, then 3 weeks later then one last time at the end of our 6 weeks.
During the orientation I note how many reps they can do but for my bootcamps I don’t track over time, they do it themselves!
Hello Cheryl,
Great question. I would treat each person like my one-on-one PT clients. If I were not a trainer and a potential boot camp participant, I would want an thorough evaluation to track my progress.
You could always make the/their first day an “evaluation day”. Have an assistant help with the depth of your evaluation ie: before photos, PAR-Q, weight, measurements etc.
This “extra” time spent with your new participants may just set you “apart” from other boot camp instructors and forge your success of future boot camp classes.
Widhing You Great Success!
Michael
Hello Cheryl,
My group session clients track their own progress; because, so far, they have declined the assessments. I do insist on the PAR-Q, though. When I can change their minds, I will have a partner assist testing portion of the first and last classes of waist and hip measurements, and the sit and reach, push-up and curl-up .
Then again, we all see how everyone improves when going through the races, games and exercises. The smiles and laughs of a good time seems plenty to motivate everyone.
Take care.
Hi Cheryl. Similarly to training an ‘individual’ client, what assessment(s) you use with your boot camp participants will depend upon what measures you wish to use to establish your clients; baselines from which you will measure their progress. As I’m sure you already know, there are many, many different types of assessments and assessment tools. So, there is no right answer here. Decide which things are important to you (and of course your clients) to measure, and also which are easily measured in a group setting, and use those things.
You mentioned that you are just starting this boot camp so what you will find is that over time and with each successive boot camp you run, you may (will) change how you run it, and what you measure simply due to experience. So, don’t worry too much about getting this perfect the first time around; the things that you measure this first boot camp, you may find not worth measuring in future ones!
Good luck and have fun!
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
[email protected]